If you’re old enough to read this, then you’ve lived long enough to know that, from time to time, life presents us with situations that can induce panic, if we let them. You know what I’m talking about. Those times just make you sick, and can rob you of peace and the ability to rest. In those times the correct response is crucial, gentlemen, especially for us. In 2 Kings 19-18, 2 Chronicles 32, and Isaiah 36-37, the account of the Assyrian campaign against Jerusalem is recorded. The Assyrians had a well-deserved reputation for ruthless brutality, much like that of ISIS in our day. Israel had already fallen to Assyria because of their unwillingness to repent and honor the Lord, and now the Assyrians stood at the gates of Jerusalem, having already taken some of Judah’s fortified cities. They eyes of God’s people looked to King Hezekiah for a response.

We are told in 2 Kings 18:3 and 2 Chronicles 29:2 that Hezekiah was a king who honored the Lord. In circumstances like Hezekiah’s it would be easy to allow ourselves to live according to the flesh, and justify anger against the Lord, questioning why He would allow such a thing, and thinking that we deserve better. But, Hezekiah chose to live according to the Word of God. In 2 Kings 19:1 and Isaiah 37:1, we are told that “when King Hezekiah heard it, that he tore his clothes, covered himself with sackcloth, and went into the house of the Lord.” For our purposes here, we will look at two aspects of His response.

The first point where Hezekiah responds correctly is his honesty. Even though he does not blame God with wrongdoing, he does acknowledge the situation. He does not try to act as though he is not afraid. To deny the reality or the gravity of dire circumstances leads those who look to us for guidance into a state of confusion, and ultimately distrust in our judgement and our leadership. We know, based on 2 Corinthians 1:8, that at least once the apostle Paul “despaired even of life,” while living in obedience to the Lord. We are not wrong in acknowledging the truth. Where we tend to go wrong is when we neglect to follow Hezekiah’s next move.

In 2 Kings 19:1 and Isaiah 37:1, we see that after Hezekiah put on sackcloth, he “entered the house of the Lord.” Now we’re cooking with a delicious blend of garlic, butter, and lemon juice! I highly encourage you to read the whole account for yourself to get every bit of the story, but suffice to say that God heard the cry of His child, and honored His Word to His people.

Don’t misunderstand. Immediate deliverance is not always promised, and physical death is a form of deliverance for the saints (Psalm 116:15). But, ultimate deliverance, vindication, and victory are promised. In Hezekiah’s case, immediate deliverance and victory had been promised, if he would fear the Lord and call upon Him. I don’t want us to see this as a story of deliverance, although it is, but instead as a story of turning to the Lord to have our vision changed to His, to have our perspectives corrected. Things may not always look like we thought they should or hoped they would. The child of God does not have to panic, surrender to human nature, and compromise the Word of the Lord. Instead, he turns to his Father and asks: “What do You say?”